Former Manchester United strikers' coach Benni McCarthy has revealed he did not discuss with Mamelodi Sundowns Sporting Director Flemming Berg about joining the club.
The Defending Premier Soccer League champions had a shaky start in the 2024/25 campaign under coach Manqoba Mngqithi. The 53-year-old had had a not-so-convincing pre-season in Austria before getting eliminated from the MTN8 by Stellenbosch who were eventually beaten in the final by Orlando Pirates.
Mngqithi has since steadied the ship, reaching the Carling Knockout final but fell to Magesi FC. Currently, the Brazilians are on top of the PSL table with 21 points, the same as Pirates who have an inferior goal difference.
At least, rumours of Mngqithi being replaced have cooled down. In his recent conversation with the media, the Bafana Bafana legend revealed the discussion he had with Berg.
‘It was a normal chat'
“We bumped into each other at the airport, we recognized each other and we just spoke,” he told the media.
“We spoke about European football in general and Flemming told me about the time he worked as an international scout at Chelsea and he was based in Portugal at the same time that I was playing in Porto. We basically just touched on that and spoke about modern-day football and South African football.
“It never came up that there was an insinuation from his side or from my side that there could be a collaboration of working for the club that he is working for. It was just honest, normal chat and I think the club made the decision with the coaches that they have it doesn't mean they should interfere with that just because I'm no longer in a club and that does not mean that I am available.”
I want to coach but…
Apart from Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, Royal AM, and AmaZulu were just some of the teams that were linked to the tactician. He has conceded he wants to coach but he will just not take any offer that comes his way.
“I want a challenge; if it's the right team for me and it concurs with the club that is interested. Those are the challenges that I want. I don't want to go into just any job because I want to coach.
“I'm enjoying my time with my family, I'm enjoying just going to watch different football clubs, going to learn at different clubs, speaking to different coaches, and expanding my knowledge on coaching. The type of coach that I want to be and how I can improve myself as football is changing.
“There was nothing formal about me meeting any South African club,” McCarthy concluded.
